Numerous police and international intelligence and enforcement agencies classify the Rock Machine Motorcycle Club as an motorcycle gang and contend that members carry out widespread violent crimes, including drug dealing, trafficking in stolen goods, gunrunning, extortion, and prostitution operations. Members of the organization have continuously asserted that they are only a group of motorcycle enthusiasts who have joined to ride motorcycles together, to organize social events such as group road trips, fundraisers, parties, and motorcycle rallies, and that any crimes are the responsibility of the individuals who carried them out and not the club as a whole. Members of the club have been accused of crimes and/or convicted in many host nations.
Canada
Alberta
On December 14, 2010, Andrew "Blaklistid" Block, a member of the Rock Machine's Edmonton chapter, was shot and killed. His body was found by Edmonton Police at the corner of 127 St. and 116 Ave, located in the suburb of Inglewood. He had been shot in the head while behind the wheel of his pickup truck. The bullet had entered the back windshield of the vehicle, passed through the headrest and hit the victim. A post was made on WWW.RockMachine.ca by the club that extended their official condolences to his family and honoring his memory. Another post was also made by the Rock Machine Nova Scotia. One member wrote on the site's guest book.
It is with heavy hearts that all of the Nova Scotia Rock Machine Full Patches, prospects, hangarounds, and supporters send our thoughts, prayers and condolences for the loss of Brother Andy Rock. He was taken from us too soon. Ride on and rest in peace, brother.
British Columbia
In March 2014, it was revealed by police and media in British Columbia, that members of the Rock Machine Nomads Canada chapter, had arrived in B.C. They had been sighted in province's lower mainland. They stated that this wasn't a shock, as they had heard "rumblings since 2005 that Rock Machine members wanted to break into B.C." He also claimed that "potential members wearing Rock Machine support gear have been threatened recently." They went on to state that this brought a moderate amount of concern due to the groups violent history with one another. They had faced each other during the bloody Quebec Biker War (1994–2002) that took the lives of over 160 people, injured over 180, with over 300 attempted assassinations.
The Rock Machine and its support clubs, the Vendettas Motorcycle Club, Hell Hounds MC and SS Elite Motorcycle Club had also clashed with the Hells Angels and their support club the Redline Motorcycle Club for control of Manitoba from 2009 to 2011. The conflict saw a combination of shootings and fire bombings. The officer stated "That is how they look after those sorts of conflicts, and the car bomb was one of the most effective tools they used back in Quebec. So my point is that it is not a stretch to see the Quebec-like response here in B.C., because they have done it before." Police were interviewed by The Province News, they had also interviewed an associate or member of the Rock Machine that stated that the club planned on setting up a full chapter in Vancouver, British Columbia within the next year. The officer commented that this would be difficult as the Hells Angels owned the province and would not take lightly to their presence without their permission. However he did also state that "The war [in Manitoba] has been quiet in the past few months, but the rivalry is still existent and it appears the Rock Machine outlaw motorcycle gang are still intent on expanding their presence here and across Canada," authorities stated in 2012, according to the Winnipeg Sun.